SHANGHAI 2010 WORLD EXPO The chips are down in Beijing and the die is cast in Shanghai! The sleeping beauty is giving herself a makeover, spending without counting, modernizing to the extreme while still restoring her past, all for the World Expo which opens its doors in May 2010. Photos and text by Bruno Morandi / LightMediation
2689-09: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund, rivière Huangpu // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, Buildings of Pudong from the Bund, Huangpu River
Contact - Thierry Tinacci - LightMediation Photo Agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 email: thierry@lightmediation.com
2689-61: Chine, Shanghai, jour de mariage // China, Shanghai, wedding day
2689-02: Chine, Shanghai, Expo 2010, affiche de l exposition universelle // China, Shanghai, poster of Expo 2010
2689-03: Chine, Shanghai, Expo 2010, mascotte de l exposition universelle au Centre d Exposition d Urbanisme // China, Shanghai, mascot of Expo 2010, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
2689-04: Chine, Shanghai, Expo 2010, exposition universelle, maquette au Centre d Exposition d Urbanisme // China, Shanghai, Expo 2010, scale model, Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center
2689-05: Chine, Shanghai, le Bund et Pudong, vue générale // China, Shanghai, Pudung and the Bund, general view
2689-06: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund, rivière Huangpu // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, Buildings of Pudong from the Bund, Huangpu River
2689-07: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund, rivière Huangpu // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, Buildings of Pudong from the Bund, Huangpu River
2689-08: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund, rivière Huangpu // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, Buildings of Pudong from the Bund, Huangpu River
2689-25: Chine, Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Art Center a Pudong // China, Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Art Center at Pudong
2689-63: Chine, Shanghai, marche aux oiseaux et aux animaux de Xizang Nanlu // China, Shanghai, Xizang Nanlu bird and animal market
2689-10: Chine. Shanghai. vue de Pudong, le quartier des affaires. // China. Shanghai. The Huangpu River and many of the new towers of Pudong, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
2689-11: Chine. Shanghai. vue de Pudong, le quartier des affaires. // China. Shanghai. The Huangpu River and many of the new towers of Pudong, including the Oriental Pearl TV Tower.
2689-12: Chine. Shanghai. Le Bund avec en fond le quartier d'affaire de Pudong. // China. Shanghai. Bund and Pudong busness center.
2689-64: Chine, Shanghai, ambiance matinal au parc Fuxing, cour de danse // China, Shanghai, Fuxing park, dance lesson
2689-14: Chine. Shanghai. Le Bund avec en fond le quartier d'affaire de Pudong. // China. Shanghai. Bund and Pudong busness center.
2689-15: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund. // China, Shanghai, Pudong towers from the Bund.
2689-16: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund. // China, Shanghai, Pudong towers from the Bund.
2689-17: Chine. Shanghai. Excercices matinal sur le Bund. // China. Shanghai. Chinese women dance with red fans on the bund in Shanghai for exercise every morning.
2689-18: Chine. Shanghai. Le Bund. Quartier colonial. // China. Shanghai. The Bund.
2689-19: Chine, Shanghai, nouvelles constructions. // China, Shanghai, project for new buiding.
2689-20: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple. Tour Tomorrow Square. // China, Shanghai, People Square. Tomorrow Square tower.
2689-21: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple. // China, Shanghai, People Square.
2689-22: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple. Tour Tomorrow Square. // China, Shanghai, People Square. Tomorrow Square tower.
2689-23: Chine, Shanghai, Poste principale sur Sichuan Zhonglu // China, Shanghai, post office on Sichuan Zhonglu street
2689-24: Chine, Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Art Center a Pudong // China, Shanghai, Shanghai Oriental Art Center at Pudong
2689-13: Chine. Shanghai. Excercices matinal sur le Bund. // China. Shanghai. Chinese women dance with red fans on the bund in Shanghai for exercise every morning.
2689-66: Chine, Shanghai,Chine, Shanghai, village lacustre de Zhujiajiao, rivière Cao gang // China, Shanghai province, village of Zhujiajiao
2689-26: Chine. Shanghai. Tour Oriental Pearl TV. // China. Shanghai. Oriental Pearl TV Tower in Pudong.
2689-27: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong et du toit de la tour Jin Mao depuis le Shanghai World Financial Center // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, the Illuminated roof of the Jin Mao Tower seen from
2689-28: Chine, Shanghai, Garden Bridge ou pont Waibaidu sur le Bund // China, Shanghai, Garden Bridge or Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund
2689-29: Chine, Shanghai, Garden Bridge ou pont Waibaidu sur le Bund // China, Shanghai, Garden Bridge or Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund
2689-30: Chine. Shanghai. Tunnel touristique du Bund. // China. Shanghai. Touristical tunnel of the Bund.
2689-31: Chine, Shanghai, Aquarium de Shanghai a Pudong // China, Shanghai, Shanghai Aquarium at Pudong
2689-32: Chine, Shanghai, le Bar Rouge, Bund 18 // China, Shanghai, the Bar Rouge, 18 Bund
2689-30: Chine. Shanghai. Tunnel touristique du Bund. // China. Shanghai. Touristical tunnel of the Bund.
2689-67: Chine, Shanghai, train Ă levitation magnetique (MagLev (magnetic levitation), ce train conduit de l'aeroport international de Pudong a Shanghai a la vitesse de 430km/h // China, Shanghai, magnetic
2689-34: Chine. Shanghai. Rue chic de Nanjing Lu. // China. Shanghai. Nanjing Lu, main shopping street.
2689-35: Chine, Shanghai, centre ville vers la place du Peuple. / China, Shanghai, City center around Peoples Square.
2689-36: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise. le pavillion Hu Xing et le pont en Zig Zag. //China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, Hu Xing teahouse and bridge.
2689-37: Chine. Shanghai. Bazar Lao Jie ou Chenghuang Miao. // China. Shanghai. Lao Jie or Chenghuang Miao bazar.
2689-38: Chine. Shanghai. Quartier de Huaihai Zhonglu. // China. Shanghai. Huaihai Zhonglu area.
2689-39: Chine, Shanghai, Rue chic de Nanjing Lu (rue de Nankin) // China, Shanghai, Nanjing Lu, main shopping street
2689-40: Chine, Shanghai, quartier de Xintiandi, ancienne concession francaise // China, Shanghai, Xintiandi neighbourhood, French Concession
2689-06: Chine, Shanghai, vue de Pudong depuis le Bund, rivière Huangpu // China, Shanghai, Pudong District, Buildings of Pudong from the Bund, Huangpu River
2689-41: Chine, Shanghai, quartier de Xintiandi, ancienne concession francaise // China, Shanghai, Xintiandi neighbourhood, French Concession
2689-42: Chine, Shanghai, quartier de Xintiandi, ancienne concession francaise // China, Shanghai, Xintiandi neighbourhood, French Concession
2689-43: Chine, Shanghai, quartier de Xintiandi, ancienne concession francaise // China, Shanghai, Xintiandi neighbourhood, French Concession
2689-44: Chine, Shanghai, jeune femme dans un restaurant. //China, Shanghai, young lady at restaurant
2689-65: Chine, Shanghai, Opera au Grand Theatre de Shanghai, maquillage de la troupe de l Opera de Pekin dans les loges // China, Shanghai, Shanghai Grand Theatre, Beijing Opera make up, back stage
2689-46: Chine, Shanghai, rue de Nankin (Nanjing road) / China, Shanghai, Nanjing road.
2689-47: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, marche aux puces de Dongtai Lu. / China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, antique market at Dongtai Lu
2689-48: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, marche aux puces de Dongtai Lu. / China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, antique market at Dongtai Lu
2689-33: Chine. Shanghai. Rue chic de Nanjing Lu. // China. Shanghai. Nanjing Lu, main shopping street.
2689-49: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, marche aux puces de Dongtai Lu, Mao souvenir. / China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, antique market at Dongtai Lu, Mao souvenir
2689-50: hine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, boutique de souvenir, Mao //China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, souvenir shop, Mao
2689-51: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, marche aux puces de Dongtai Lu. / China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, antique market at Dongtai Lu
2689-52: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, marche aux puces de Dongtai Lu, joueur de domino. / China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, antique market at Dongtai Lu, domino player
2689-53: hine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, Jardin Yu //China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, Yu Garden
2689-54: Chine, Shanghai, Nanshi l'ancienne ville chinoise, temple du Dieu des Remparts et des Fosses. // China, Shanghai, Nanshi the old chinese city, City Gold Temple.
2689-55: Chine, Shanghai, le Temple du Bouddha de Jade. // China, Shanghai, Jade Bouddha temple.
2689-56: Chine, Shanghai, le temple bouddhiste de Longhua // China, Shanghai, Bouddhist temple of Longhua
2689-28: Chine, Shanghai, Garden Bridge ou pont Waibaidu sur le Bund // China, Shanghai, Garden Bridge or Waibaidu Bridge on the Bund
2689-57: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple, Musee de Shanghai // China, Shanghai, People Square, Shanghai Museum
2689-58: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple, Musee de Shanghai // China, Shanghai, People Square, Shanghai Museum
2689-59: Chine, Shanghai, Place du Peuple, Musee de Shanghai, statue d'un Bodhisatva, 581-618 apres JC. // China, Shanghai, People Square, Shanghai Museum, Bodhisatva stone statue, A.D. 581-618
2689-60: Chine, Shanghai, lofts des artistes de Moganshan Lu // China, Shanghai, artist loft of Moganshan Lu.
2689-61: Chine, Shanghai, jour de mariage // China, Shanghai, wedding day
Shanghai 2010 World Expo The chips are down in Beijing and the die is cast in Shanghai! The sleeping beauty is giving herself a makeover, spending without counting, modernizing to the extreme while still restoring her past, all for the World Expo which opens its doors in May 2010. "Better city, better life" chant the billboards for the Expo that will take place on the two banks of the Huangpu, upriver from the city center. The Expo already has a few figures: 70 million visitors expected during the 6 months of the event, a surface area of 5.28 km2, 186 countries and 47 international organizations having announced their participation in this event that will take place for the first time in a developing country, thus opening a new chapter in the history of world expos that goes back to 1851. In all, it will be a technological exhibition, a trade fair, a fine arts salon and an open-air architecture competition of which certain projects will remain permanently, like the France Pavilion conceived by the architect Jacques Ferrier, and the Ren building, with its very futuristic architecture representing the Chinese sign "ren" which means "Man". For Shanghai, which is reclaiming its position as a financial center in the Asian Pacific zone, this is an event commensurate with Chinese growth. With close to 20 million inhabitants, Shanghai is the biggest city in China, and of course it did not wait for the expo to enter the 21st century. If the city, because of a past linked to foreign occupation and a reputation for corruption, betting, opium
and prostitution, had been sent to the corner by Mao, since the 1990s, and thanks to Deng Xiaoping's decision to promote the city's development, it has re-arisen. You just have to come from the airport on board the Maglev to realize how much: 7 minutes at 430km/hour to reach the city center! But why not start your tour of the city early in the morning in Fuxing Park? Here you discover the city through its unchanging aspect. An oasis of oxygen designed by the French, those who live nearby come to learn the two-step, the waltz, tango or rockabilly, listen to the birds' songs, talk politics, play cards or mah-jongg, or slowly move their bodies in the art of Tai chi. It is just a stone's throw from the park to the Xintiandi neighborhood, the old French concession. 1843 marked the start of the foreign concessions. Americans, English, French, Russians and Japanese cohabited or succeeded one another in Shanghai. This period of occupation profoundly influenced the city's cultural identity by contributing in the 1920s and 1930s to the boom in the arts, cinema, theatre, and the birth of the first Chinese jazz band. After breakfast at the bakery "Paul", which seduces its Chinese customers with its French croissants, direction People's Square, where the futuristic architecture of the Opera, the Grand Theatre, the National Museum and the Hayatt Hotel rubs shoulders with the 19th century Park Hotel and Museum of Modern Art. From both sides of the square emerges the most animated street in the city: the famous, chic and partly pedestrian Nanjing Road. To the east of Nanjing you find the Bund, the famous Boulevard that borders the Huangpu River. The former business center for foreign companies, the Bund is lined with sumptuous buildings in
European style: banks, hotels and colonial companies from the 1930s that today house international ritz, restaurants with panoramic views or very trendy bars like Bar Rouge at N째18. Across from it is the new business neighborhood of Pudong where architectural excess knows no limit: 492m for the Shanghai World Financial Center, 468m for the Oriental Pearl television tower, 421m for the Jin Mao tower? the roofs of the world in architectural terms! To connect the two banks of the river, a glass wagon slides through a sound and light tunnel, very kitsch? But Shanghai also has its Buddhist Temples, especially lively on weekends, the Moganshan Lu with its lofts and artists' galleries, Nanshi, the old Chinese city partly rebuilt, the antiques market in Dongtai Lu, a few waterside neighborhoods on its outskirts, like Zhujiajiao? there seems to be no end to what you will come across. Coming to the World Expo also means coming to discover this unique and fascinating city.